Sunday, December 14, 2008

Mark Anderson's 10 Predictions for 2009

With an unbelievable 96% rate of accuracy for business and technology predictions in 2008, Mark Anderson, is someone worth listening to. Even if he doesn't hit the mark all the time, his ideas/thought process remains intriguing.

Here are his predictions for 2009.

1.)It will be a big year for applications that can play on big screens. We’ve already got our plasma TVs, he said.In 2009, we’ll spend more on ways to use them – video games, movies, etc. “It will all be about what you can do for $100 to add value.”

2.)Similarly, the big news in the mobile world won’t be a slicker, newer cellphone -- it will be smart phone applications. “We’re talking billions in downloads,” he said. In addition, because of their low cost and high volume, smart phone apps have the potential to replace mobile advertising – unless it can be ‘dragged through’ on an app.

3.)The blush is off the China rose. “There are already 15,000 riots a year in China,” Anderson said. “The next thing is that people will get shot.” China’s GDP is likely to plummet in 2009, and the West will revise its view of the country, recognizing it as a polluted place, rife with economic turmoil and starving people.

4.)2009 will be the year when flash-based computing will really take off. “This year we’ll see the first computer with no moving parts,” he said. That means the shelf life of a computer will expand, which will force the software industry to develop products that last over a longer term. “Everybody benefits,” Anderson said.

5.)This will also be the year that wall computing gets traction. Think of the wall computers that CNN’s John King used during the election. They will soon find their way into corporate conference rooms, fundamentally changing the way we collaborate at work.

6.)Carry-along computers will be hot. HP’s mini is already ringing up dramatic sales, and Dell is entering the market as well. These lightweight, inexpensive little laptops, “will soon be the most commonly used computer,” Anderson said.

7.)Led by Europe, LTE (Long Term Evolution) will be the preferred technology for 4G.

8.)Not to be left behind, the less developed world will finally see widespread availability of broadband. “Villages in Africa and elsewhere will get broadband and telephony at the same time,” he said.

9.)After years of failed promises, voice recognition will finally work right. “We’ll go from being angry with the mechanical voice at the end of the line, to using it without annoyance,” he said. “We will finally have continuous speech with no training.”

10.)The Internet Assistant will be born. Think of this as your own personal technological concierge that can integrate all your disparate data and put it to work, probably via your phone. In 2009, you’ll be able to say, “Jeeves, I’m going to San Diego on Friday, your IA will book a flight (using your frequent flier account, and scoring your preferred window seat), book a car to the airport, reserve a rental car of the size you like with your favorite provider, book a hotel, and make dinner reservations at your favorite boite. It may even scan your calendar, determine that you have a free evening, and book tickets to the philharmonic.

While Anderson had no predictions for when the housing market, or the broader market would hit bottom, he was optimistic that having a new, competent, team in Washington, that valued science, technology, and innovation, would improve the country’s overall mood.

Market psychology is a powerful force, he said. It’s not surprising that the country is currently in a funk, given that we’ve been bombarded for nearly a decade with relentless messages of fear. “If you did this to a dog, you’d get arrested,” he said.

“In 2009,” he said, “our psychology will improve, even if our circumstances will get worse.”

Cloudy With the Chance of Meatballs [movie]

Bored and stuck inside because of the unrelenting rain we watched the brain rotting fun that is the House Bunny. It is one of those comedies, you either catch on HBO, or else when you are pressed to think of anything better to put in your Netflix queue. All excuses aside, this Happy Madison venture, wasn't the Jerk, but it was mildly entertaining.

One of the best things that came out of the viewing was going to imdb after the movie ended. We were trying to think of what other movies Anna Farris was in. We could only think of the Wayans Brother's Scary Movie franchise. And then there it was!!

I almost couldn't believe it. This was one of my favorite stories as a kid. It's a story about a distant land called ChewandSwallow, where all meals would rain down from the heavens. The pictures were mesmerizing for me, as a kid, with an already overactive imagination. Whether young or old, I definitely recommend checking it out.

The fact that Mr. T and Tracy Morgan also have speaking parts on the project, made the news even sweeter! Not only that, but Andy Samberg, of "Ji** in my Pants" also stars.

Next we need a proper adaptation of "In The Night Kitchen" by Maurice Sendak and things will be complete.

Waipahu's iron bikers of the 1930's

Fantastic story about the single speed bike riders of Hawaii's past. One of the men in the picture went on to create, Kiyabu Bicycle, which would later come to be known as McCully Bicycle. As always, Lee Cataluna's writing is spot on!

This photo of the Waipahu Pedal Pushers was taken in 1935. The riders were rugged athletes, traveling to Maui to ride up Haleakala on single-speed bikes without brakes. The staff at McCully Bicycle have collected anecdotes about the photo's Pedal Pushers over the years.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Myka Nyne & Factor - 1969

I have to admit I've stopped checking for a lot of artists I used to love over the years. Whether this is because their music has degraded in to a sloppy mess, taken on a new, decidedly hapless direction, or most commonly because they have nothing IMPORTANT or INSPIRED left to say, one artist I will always keep checking for is Myka Nyne of Freestyle Fellowship.

"1969" the new album by Myka Nyne and Factor is pretty incredible, and I say this as someone who has heard the album. Definitely worth picking up and having in your collection. Tracks run the gamut from the melodic rap that defines Myka's best and brightest work, to the hard chop fest on songs like Chopper featuring Busdriver. Factor does not disappoint with production that enhances, heightens, and complements the many moods of Myka Nyne.

Album drops on 1/20/09 Myka's birthday. Art by Alyum of Lazarus Pit. Dropping on Fake Four Inc.

Check out the other streaming tracks on Myka's myspace page.Download "Real Song" via Grandgood's blog post.Read about the tour featuring Myka Nyne, Factor, Sole, Ceschi, Def3, and more, post also courtesy of Grandgood who stays on top of things way better than I.Tracklisting